Fratello Talks: How Our Grail Watches Have Evolved Over Time
Ask any seasoned collector what his or her grail watch was upon first entering the hobby, and chances are the answer will be very different from what it is today. As our knowledge grows and our tastes mature, so too do the watches we aspire to own. Sometimes the grail gets bigger, sometimes it gets smaller, and occasionally, it turns out we already owned it without realizing. In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined by RJ and Thomas to reflect on how their grail watches have changed over the years. They discuss the influence of experience, changing priorities, and why the concept of a grail watch is often more fluid than collectors expect. But first, a quick wrist check.
Wrist check
RJ is wearing his Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary, the luxurious commemorative edition that celebrates the Moon landing with Omega’s proprietary Moonshine Gold alloy and a richly detailed design. This was, once upon a time, RJ’s grail. But has that changed in the years since he bought it? You’ll have to tune in to find out.
Thomas has on the Bravur Team Heritage REN, a cycling-inspired watch celebrating the French Team Renault–Elf–Gitane (1978–1985), complete with vintage-inspired colors and detailing. And though he’s not an avid cyclist, he still enjoys the 37mm case and its excellent ergonomics.
Nacho is wearing his VPC Type 37HW Dove Grey. It’s a thoughtfully designed everyday watch that combines restrained aesthetics with robust engineering and a hand-wound movement. After wearing his chunky Doxa Sub 300T for a couple of weeks, the slim and refined VPC is a welcome change of pace.
Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5610/1P-001
Fratello Talks: How Our Grail Watches Have Evolved Over Time
A grail watch isn’t necessarily a fixed destination. More often than not, it reflects where you are as a collector at a particular moment. In this episode, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss how their grail watches have changed over the years, what prompted those shifts, and why evolving tastes are an important part of enjoying the hobby.
Now we’d like to hear from you, Fratelli. Has your grail watch changed since you first got into watches, or has it stayed the same all along? Let us know in the comments below.
